Free opera stream: A traditional André Chénier from Bologna

Andrea Chénier is Umberto Giordano’s most famous opera, streamed for Slippedisc readers courtesy of OperaVision.  Chénier’s quest for naturalism led to the inclusion of the Revolutionary songs ‘Ça ira’, the ‘Carmagnole’ and the ‘Marseillaise’, and contrasting 18th-century dances and pastoral music. Set against these are the beautiful lyrical melodies for which the opera is famous – Chénier’s ‘Improvviso’, Gérard’s ‘Nemico della patria’, Maddalena’s ‘La mamma morta’, and the final duet ‘Vicino a te’. The chorus, representing le peuple in their many guises, plays a larger than usual part; the revolutionary zeal in some of their music making a significant contribution to the verismo nature of the work. Teatro Comunale di Bologna’s 2022 production is conducted by resident Ukrainian music director Oksana Lyniv with an authentic staging by Pier Francesco Maestrini and a distinguished cast.  The title role of  Andrea Chénier is sung by Gregory Kunde,  Carlo Gérard by Roberto Frontali and Maddalena di Coigny by Erika Grimaldo.

The Plot: inspired by the life of the poet André Chénier at the time of the French Revolution, Giordano’s opera with libretto by Luigi Illica, faithfully portrays in detail the story of the protagonist, his love for Maddalena di Coigny, his arrest as a counter-revolutionary and their final hours.

Subtitles are in Italian and English.   Available for viewing now.